Enhancing the safety and resilience of critical infrastructure in the UK

One localised fault can paralyse an entire network. To address this vulnerability, Actemium UK is enhancing the safety and resilience of critical infrastructure in the United Kingdom, in both the energy and water distribution sectors.

On 20 March 2025, a fire in an electrical substation plunged thousands of homes into darkness and temporarily paralysed London Heathrow Airport, in a striking demonstration of how interdependent critical infrastructure can be. The electrical system was shown to be the key link in a chain of failures in the transport sector.

After this incident, entire systems, from mechanical escalators to flight control systems, all had to be restarted, highlighting the complex, highly integrated nature of modern infrastructure.

And this vulnerability is not limited to the energy sector. In the water sector, the United Kingdom faces the dual pressures of aging infrastructure and extreme weather conditions. Increased rainfall is overwhelming storm drains designed for rural use, while urban expansion is piling increasing pressure on these already fragile systems. A failure, however brief, can have major social, environmental, economic and security consequences.

Integrated solutions for a complex world

As some parts of the UK’s infrastructure faces major challenges – aging installations, increasing cyberthreats and interdependent systems – the ability to monitor, secure and adapt critical infrastructure in real time becomes essential.

It is against this backdrop that Actemium’s expertise in the United Kingdom really shines out. A recognised specialist in electrical, automation and mechanical solutions, Actemium, the VINCI Energies industry brand, is positioned in the UK as a key player in ensuring safety, resilience and sustainable performance in these vital systems.

“We are rolling out high-availability architecture”

Its automation business units are developing and implementing SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) solutions and other integrated systems to provide real-time monitoring in key sectors such as water, electricity networks and transport.

They oversee the entire project life cycle, from needs assessment through to design, installation, commissioning, training and ongoing maintenance. “We provide everything from consulting services, initial design studies and specification writing through to factory testing, on-site commissioning and 24-hour assistance,” explains Donald Wibberley, Business Unit Manager at Actemium Automation Hampshire.

Safer, more resilient infrastructure

Safety and resilience challenges demand a technological and strategic response. Actemium UK provides a range of services to make infrastructure more robust: modernisation of obsolete technologies, implementation of OT (operational technology) networks, network segmentation to counteract cyberattacks, and PC and server hardening to prevent intrusions.

Donald Wibberley continues “We implement SCADA systems integrated with PLC, MES or ERP*, which not only allow centralised control, but also improve decision making, reduce costs and enhance regulatory compliance.” The modularity of these systems also brings valuable scalability, equally applicable to small installations and major national infrastructure.

Practical applications

Actemium solutions are already embedded across significant parts of the United Kingdom’s critical infrastructure. In the water sector, energy and airport sectors, its technologies (associated control systems) support essential operational processes. “These projects allow us to roll out high-availability architecture,” explains Donald Wibberley. “This includes cybersecurity protection compliant with the latest standards, and high-performance remote monitoring and control.”

*PLC: Programmable Logic Controller; MES: Manufacturing Execution System; ERP: Enterprise Resource Planning.

04/16/2026